Chinese Ambassador to Uganda Zhang Lizhong (4th L) and Ugandan Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng (2nd R) attend the handover ceremony of the anti-malaria medicines donated by China, at the National Medical Stores in Kajjansi, central district of Wakiso, Uganda, on April 5, 2024. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua)
KAMPALA, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Uganda has said the anti-malaria medicines worth 1.1 million U.S. dollars donated by China will greatly help curb the epidemic in the east African country.
Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng said the country last year experienced an upsurge in cases of malaria, which spread to more than half of the districts across Uganda.
Aceng was speaking Friday after receiving the consignment of drugs from the Chinese Ambassador to Uganda, Zhang Lizhong, at the National Medical Stores in Kajjansi, central district of Wakiso, a district in the Central Region of Uganda.
"As a country we are at high risk of malaria due to our climatic conditions. Uganda is also the 3rd highest contributor of malaria cases (5.4 percent) and 7th highest contributor of malaria deaths globally (2.9 percent)," Aceng said.
"Therefore, this generous donation of anti-malarial drugs will be helpful in the fight against malaria and control of the malaria epidemic, especially in prone areas," the minister said.
According to the minister, the most affected populations included children, pregnant women and people who live in rural and hard-to-reach areas.
She said between 2021 and 2023, the country experienced a generalized increase in malaria cases, "with some areas surpassing the epidemic thresholds."
"At the peak of the epidemic in July 2022, over 75 districts were reported as having a malaria epidemic. As a result, there was an increase in the demand for anti-malarial drugs," she said.
Ambassador Zhang said the cooperation in health was one of the most important areas of cooperation in the bilateral relations of the two countries.
"This donation is also an implementation of the medical and health program among the Nine Programs initiated at the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC)," Zhang said.
The Ambassador said the two countries had for long cooperated in the health sector and would continue doing the same.
Since 1983, China has dispatched 23 batches of medical teams to Uganda with 218 doctors. Hundreds of thousands of Ugandans have since been treated for various sicknesses.
Zhang said the two countries could work together to achieve digitalization in healthcare and jointly research in herbs to combat viruses. ■
Chinese Ambassador to Uganda Zhang Lizhong (R) and Ugandan Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng sign the documents during the handover ceremony of the anti-malaria medicines donated by China, at the National Medical Stores in Kajjansi, central district of Wakiso, Uganda, on April 5, 2024. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua)
Ugandan Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng speaks during the handover ceremony of the anti-malaria medicines donated by China, at the National Medical Stores in Kajjansi, central district of Wakiso, Uganda, on April 5, 2024. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua)
With Djokovic awaiting the winner, Murray trails Hanfmann at rain
Xi Focus: Xi Stresses Striving for Full Revitalization of Northeast China
Liu brothers quickly into high gear
Xi Sends Congratulatory Letter to 2023 Pujiang Innovation Forum
College baseball notebook: Conference tournaments to decide NCAA automatic bids and many at
China's basketball star Yi Jianlian announces retirement
Anderson aiming to dish out more assists
Memorable show lowers curtain on Asian Games
Hall of Fame outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. to lead Indianapolis 500 field in Corvette pace car
Velodrome of Hangzhou Asian Games entered preparations for the competition
Verona confirms Serie A status for another year after beating Salernitana
Domestic oil, gas production hits record in 2023